Book or binder cover and method of making the same



Nov. 15, 1932. c. D. TRUSSELL BOOK OR BINDER COVER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Aug. 2. 1950 v INVENTOR A By Aftomeys,

Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TRUSSELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK BOOK OR BINDER COVER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Application filed August 2, 1930. Serial No. 472,515.

This invention relates to an improved book or binder cover having an inwardly-rolled marginal portion adapted to improve its ap along both ends and around the corners so as to be continuous commencing at a point near the back at the top and ending at a point near the back at the bottom.

The invention is adapted for application to book or hinder covers made of any material which may be bent or molded to the desired form and caused to set or otherwise retain that form, and is particularly adapted for application to such covers when made of material which may be rendered sufficiently plastic, when heated, to be formed by subjecting it to pressure between dies. One type of material well adapted for such use is a chemically treated and coacted fabric known as artificial leather and is quite generally bought and sold under the trade name Fabrikoid. This material comprises one or more layers of fabric coated on one or both surfaces with pyroxylin jelly. Some leathers are also adaptable for the purpose.

The preferred method of imparting the gradually curved or rolled marginal portions to the book or binder cover consists in pressing the portion-to be rolled or curved between heated dies of suitable form, and then permitting the curved portions to cool and set in the form imparted by the dies.

If the book or hinder has separate covers, the side and end portions of each cover may be rolled at a single operation by pressing them between a pair of dies of suitable form. If-the covers and back of the book or hinder are made from a single sheet of material, the sides and ends of both covers may be curved or rolled as a result of a single operation, by pressing them between a pair of heated dies of the proper form.

It is a further object of the invention to subject the treated edge of the binder to a sutfici'ent'degree of heat and pressure during the molding operation to cause the thermoplastic coating material at the out edge of the cover to flow about the margin of the fabric and become united so as to form a continuous surface coating extending from the outer curved surface of the marginal portion of the cover to its inner surface.

If desired, the surfaces of the molds and the applied pressure may be such as to smooth out any graining or other surface ornamentation which may have been previously imparted to the surface of the cover material, thus producing an inturned rolled edge having an attractive, smooth and glossy appearance, which may be substantially equal to or slightly less in thickness than the portions of the cover lying within the marginal portion.

The invention may be applied to a cover consisting of a single ply of material or to one comprising two surface plies and, if desired, an intervening board.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred form of the invention- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a binder and a transverse sectional view thereof, the covers of the binder having curved marginal portions embodying the herein-disclosed invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the binder illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a face view of one corner portion of the cover of the binder illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a piece of cover material and a pair of dies by means of which the marginal portion may be curved.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, representing the material as having been compressed between the dies in order to impart to the material the desired curved marginal portion.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the invention is disclosed as applied to an ordinary loose-leaf binder comprising a metal structure 20, which may be secured in any appropriate manner to the cover construction herein disclosed as consisting of a single sheet of material forming the covers 21 and back 22. The metal structure may comprise rings of the usual character, by means of which sheets of paper 23 may be inserted and held in the binder in loose-leaf form.

One feature of the invention consists in applying to a cover of the above-described.

character an inwardly curved or rolled marginal portion 24. This rolled portion should be of a very uniform and gradual curvature and should mer e into the adjacent portion of the cover wit out any abrupt break. The inner and outer surfaces of the rolled portion 24 may preferably be of concentric arcs of circles in cross-section, and may be reduced to a thickness less than that of the cover sides. The rolled portion will preferably extend continuously from a point near the back of the book at one end, as at 25, to and around the corner, as at 26, thence along the side of the book to the opposite corner, and thence alorllig the opposite end to a point near the If the book or hinder cover is made of Fabrikoid, hard rubber, or any other material adapted to be rendered plastic by the applicatlon of heat, the rolled edge may be imparted thereto by pressing the marginal portions bet-ween heated dies. And if the cover material has been treated in the usual manner to im art to its surface the usual grain-like markings 27 (Fig. 1) or other ornamentation 28, the marginal portions may be sub- ]ected to sufiicient pressure and heat during the molding operation to smooth out the graining or other ornamentation and produce a contrasting, smooth, polished surface along the curved portion 24. I

In Figs. 4 and 5 is conventionally represented apparatus by means of which the procass of rolllng or curving the ed e of the book or binder cover may be carrie out.

In Fig. 4 is represented at 29 a sheet of cover material, suchas Fabrikoid, compris mg one or more layers of fabric 30 having coatings 31, 32 on the opposite surfaces of the fabric. Such material as cut from stock would leave a raw edge of the fabric exposed, as at 33, except that it would be more or less embedded in the coating material by which it has become saturated during the course of manufacture.

The means whereby the marginal'portion of the sheet of .cover material 29 may be curved or rolled is indicated in Fig. 4 as comprising a pair of dies 34, 34', having inner surfaces 35, 35' of suitable form to impart to the material the degree of curvature esired. Any appropriate means may be provided whereby the dies may be heated. uch means has been conventionally represented as comprising electric heating elements\36, 36, which may be embedded in suitable insulation 37 37 and sealed in place by cement 38, 38 of any appropriate character. The heating elements may be connected with a source of electromotive force by means of conductors 39, 39, and the dies proper temperature by energizing the'electrio heatin elements, the dies are forced together to t e relative positions indicated in Fig. 5, thus causing the marginal portion of the sheet of cover material to be compressed and heated and the plastic material to soften and take the form imparted by the opposed surfaces of the dies. As already stated, the degree of heat and pressure may, if desired, be sufficient to smooth out any graining or surface ornamentation of the material, and it ma also, if desired, be suflicient to cause the p astic coating material to flow around the exposed edge portions of the fabric 30 and meet at the point marked 40 in Fig. 5, thus covering the edge portion and resulting in acontinuous smooth coating from the upper surface 41 of the rolled marginal portion of the cover around the edge portion 40 to the under surface 42.

After the marginal portion has thus been curved or rolled, the dies may be separated and the sheet of cover material removed so that the treated marginal portions may be permitted to cool and set. The sheet of material will then be in readiness for use as a book or binder cover.

Although the invention has herein been disclosed as applied to the cover of a. loose-leaf ring binder, it will be apparent that it is equally applicable to book covers generally.

It will be obvious that a cover made in accordance with the present invention will be neat and attractive in appearance, and, although the rolled marginal portion will be equally flexible with other parts of the cover, yet in view of the curved forms of the margins at the sides and ends and extending around the corners, the cover will be slightly stiffened and caused to maintain its shape when opened. When the book is closed the inturned covers close over the edges of the sheets inserted in the binder and form a protection, thus preventing them from becoming marred and soiled. The inturned edges are also better adapted to preserve thelr form than are the flat edges of material as ordinarily cut from stock.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form herein disclosed for purposes of illustration, but should be regarded as including modifications and variations thereof withinthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cover for a book or binder, said cover having, its marginal side and end portions gradually curved inwardly from its body portion to its edge, such curved portions being extended around the corners.

2. A cover as defined by claim 1, of which ecause the thickness of the curved marginal portion. does not exceed that of the adjacent portion within the marginal portion.

3. A cover as defined by claim 1, of which the curved marginal portion is of substantially uniform thickness.

4:. A cover as defined by claim 1, of which the curved marginal portion has inner and outer surfaces the cross-sectional forms of which approximately conform with arcs of concentric circles.

5. A cover as defined by claim 1, of which the marginal portion is smooth.

6. A cover for a book or hinder, said cover 1 having a marginal portion gradually curved inwardly and of a thickness slightly less than the adjacent cover portion.

7. A cover as defined by claim 1 constructed of fabric treated and coated with thermo- .1 plastic material.

8. A cover for a book or binder, said cover being constructed of fabric coated with plastic material and having a marginal portion gradually curved inwardly, the plastic material being extended continuously around the edge of the fabric from the inner to the outer surface of the curved marginalportion.

9. Ihe method of imparting a curved form to the marginal portion of a cover for a book orbinder made of a material adapted to be rendered plastic by the application of heat, which consists in pressing the portion to be curved between heated dies of suitable form and then permitting the treated portion to cool and set in the curved form imparted by said dies.

10. The method of imparting a curved form to the marginal portion of a cover for a book or binder made of fabric coated on its opposite surfaces with a material adapted to be rendered plastic by the application of heat, which consists in pressing the portion to be curved between heated dies of suitable form, the degree of pressure and temperature being such as to cause the coating material to flow about the fabric at the cut edge of the material and unite to form a continuous unbroken surface of coating material from one surface of the curved marginal portion around its edge to its other surface, and then permitting the treated portion to cool and set in the form imparted by the dies.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL. 

